Insurance is ‘Protection against future loss’. That’s the textbook definition; Synonymous with indemnity. But in real life it is the promise of reimbursement in the case of loss, paid to people or companies, who, concerned about hazards, have made pre-payments to an insurance company. This article is regarding Travel Insurance, which is an attempt to minimize the financial risks, which can crop up, due to unpredictable circumstances while travelling(traveling).
Although there are different types of Travel Insurances, with different specifications, we can broadly distinguish them as ‘Single trip insurance’ and ‘Annual multi trip insurance’. Even though both the types are very popular, they do have their drawbacks.Annual Trip Travel Insurance is advisable for frequent fliers. It covers multiple trips taken during a span of 1 year. This scheme is usually taken by international businessmen, families, and people who love to travel. When you have this type of insurance, you don’t have to worry about getting last minute insurance cover, when there’s an emergency. On the other hand, Single round trip insurance is cheaper and is a better option for people who plan their trips. If you’re a student and planning to backpack across Europe, get yourself a Single round trip insurance. Nowadays insurance companies even give discounts on group insurance. And of course, if you’re a honeymoon couple looking to explore the scenic pastures of Switzerland, get yourself insured.
Other special schemes are there for Senior citizens, and Families. One notable insurance cover is the Extreme sports insurance. This type of insurance covers dangerous adventure sports like skiing, scuba diving, white water rafting etc. Although there are not many providers for this insurance, you can still talk to your insurance agent and convert your existing plan to cover these trips too. But understandably, the premium would be excruciatingly high.
Now let’s get to terms that are usually covered :
1.Emergency Repatriation and or evacuation – It is the act of returning to your own country, due to any reason.
2.Medical expenses incurred due to injury during the trip.
3.Death or disablement due to injury while travelling.
4.Overseas funeral.
5.Expenses incurred due to cancelled or delayed flight.
6.Loss, theft or damage to personal possessions and money.
7.Delayed baggage.
8.Personal legal assistance.
Now let’s see the terms which are usually NOT covered :
An illness or a disease with which a person is suffering from, before he/she buys the policy.
Deliberately putting your life in danger – Does that mean eating Octopus on a trip to China could be dangerous? Well, I haven’t done that yet, but I’m sure my insurance will cover it, if I choke on an octopus (God forbid) and need emergency treatment.
Claims involving alcohol and drugs – That means you cannot tell your insurance agent that you lost your wallet in Goa, because you were binge drinking.
Claims involving ST D’s like AIDS.
Illegal activities – Like medical expenses for getting shot in the leg, while trying to cross into China, will not be covered by the policy. Wow. That one is actually true.
Now the most important part before choosing a policy is to check :
Exclusion – Clauses not covered in your policy.
Deductibles – The amount you need to pay for each claim.
Pre-existing health condition – What I came across online is that a lot of insurance companies are luring customers with a ‘No medical check-up’ clause. Be thorough in your research and find out what exactly does it mean, before getting an online insurance.
Make sure the insurance company is licensed by the state insurance department.
Does the policy cover natural disasters and what are the restrictions?
What assistance is provided in case of medical emergency/evacuation?
Don’t just believe the hype or buy a policy your aunt had bought. There are many websites which give you price quotes by different companies, and compare them for you. One such website is InsurancePandit.com, which I found very helpful. Be safe, and get your trip insured.
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If you want something different from the usual inland holiday, a cruise is exactly what you’re looking for. With plenty of activities to keep you busy on board, you will visit numerous sea destinations throughout the course of your trip. To get the most out of your cruise make sure you pick one that will be heading towards some of the best cruise destinations.
* Barbados
There isn’t much missing from Barbados that you would expect to find on an exotic island. Gorgeous beaches, a blazing sun and cooling breezes it is one of the greatest places you can head to for some relaxation from your hectic lifestyles. Batts Rock, Paynes Bay, Folkestone Park and Gibbs Beach are some of the greatest beaches you will find here. If you want to soak up some culture you can head to some of the numerous historical sites found around Bridgetown.
* The Virgin Islands
Family holidays to remember can be found at these lovely US islands that have remained unchanged for years. You can spend your days on the sandy beaches or if you want to take part in some more activities you can go snorkeling, rafting, swimming or wind surfing. All along the coast you will find prize winning accommodation.
* The French Riviera
Located in the Mediterranean the French Riviera is an island that can provide some amazing times. Old and young travelers alike enjoy the lovely sights to be had here. With plenty of water sports to enjoy and any number of ways to party, the island is best known for how much fun visitors have.
* Alaska
Not your typical beach location, Alaska has a lot to offer as long as you dress up warm enough! If sights are your thing then Alaska is the place to be, every second you are there you will be amazed by what you see. With ice caps to gaze at and beautiful mountain landscapes. Try to drop by Mt McKinley which is the highest place in the area, you can get an eye full of a landscape that looks like something out of a dream.
* New Zealand or Australia
Heading to New Zealand and Australia on a cruise is something everybody should do. You can enjoy both world class beaches and glaciers within a short time frame. With a nightlife to die for and numerous carnivals taking place each year, you are sure to not have a dull moment.
* The Cayman Islands
If you enjoy diving and snorkeling then this should be on your priority list, you can have fun on the beaches and then explore reefs and shipwrecks . With the famous Caribbean hospitality you can also enjoy heading further inland for some shopping and sightseeing. No matter your idea of a fun holiday, outdoor or indoor activities, you will find plenty to do at the Cayman Islands.
There are more frequent people travelling these days, whether its domestic or International travellers. Because of that, many hotel offers cheap hotel, company offers cheap phone card or calling card to make calls, online web hosting offer good web hosting rate.
Below is the tips for carrying carry-on luggage and check in luggage that might help to ease and make your travelling goes smoothly during your domestic or International trip.
CHECK FOR MAXIMUM SIZE AND WEIGHT FOR CARRY ON
• As there are more airlines offer free carry-on luggage, there are increasingly people who do domestic travelling with only carry-on luggage.However, do remember to check for the maximum size and weight for carry-on luggage for your flight.
These days, as airlines and airport keep changing their regulation, it is the best to check the maximum size and weight for your carry-on luggage for your airlines. The maximum weight is usually 7-10kg, with the maximum size of 21xm x 40cm x 54cm or 56cm x 45cm x 25cm per bag. Different airlines operate on different policies. Some airlines also only allow 1 carry-on luggage, despite the weight and size. It would just be a waste of time and money when going to the check in and be told that the hand carry is oversize or overweight.
Do not worry about the small carry-on such as coat, handbag, baby stroller, laptop bag etc, as it can be carried to the cabin and rarely counted as hand-carry. To make your hand-carry luggage easier and more convenient to be carried to your flight, it is good idea to purchase the small rolled luggage or to be more convenient. Purchase the right size carry-on luggage that will just fit nicely under the seat in front of you so that you do not need to squeeze yourself with other to fit into the overhead compartment.
• Items to be packed on Hand / carry-on Luggage
If you do bring check in luggage, it is important to know that items such as cash, keys, credit cards, cameras, computer, jewellery, medicine, and identification card, business paper should not be pack in check in luggage. Fragile and irreplaceable items should not be packed in check in luggage in the case that there is a possibility that the check in back can get stolen, lost or delayed. Bring and pack the important, fragile and irreplaceable item in your carry-on luggage. It is always safer to put in your hand-carry luggage a bit of toiletries too in the case of long delay.
• List of things that Must not be Carried in Hand Luggage
With recent changes in airline and airport, many of the items that is permitted to be carried in hand luggage is not banned. The items that is not permitted varies from airport in different countries Explosive and illegal drugs are strictly prohibited. Sharp items such as scissors, penknives, nail clipper, screw driver is not permitted on carry-on baggage in most of country in the world, despite the size. Most airport / airlines only allow liquids, gels or aerosols permit with only less than 100 ml. If you are travelling with baby or in prescription medicine and in need of more liquid to be carried on hand luggage, please ask for advice from the airlines days before your travelling.
• Pack your carry-on Luggage
Neatly In some of the airport, the xray system is quite severe. It is suggested to pack the carry-on luggage neatly in the case that the airport inspector wants to inspect the belongings in the carry-on baggage; Fold the cloth neatly, electronic devices and wires coiled properly, liquids, toiletries put in separate bag. The neat packing carry-on luggage will speed up the xray process as the inspector can have clearer view of the content of the bag and it is easier to put the stuff in if any case the inspector wants to inspect some items.
• Hints for Checked Baggage
If you have travelled using the travel baggage that you are going to use for your next travel, it is better to remove any previous airline tag to prevent confusion before putting the new airline tag. To easily recognise your checked in baggage, it is better to put identification label/luggage tag given by the airlines in the luggage and if possible, write down also the home address in the case of your baggage is lost. It is more critical to put the airline tag if you travel to different places or in transit to different places Putting the airline luggage tag with numbers or easy identification such as colour tape, ribbon stickers etc will also prevent other traveller to mistakenly take your luggage if in coincidence the baggage looks similar. Check-in luggage should be locked at all time no matter where your travel. Lastly, do make sure that your check in bag are going to the destination of your travelling.
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We’ve discussed health and travel before, but if you’re going to travel healthy, there are some things we can add…. and there are some things that bear repeating!
We’ve said that you should be healthy when you leave on your trip. A last minute cold aside, you don’t want to be climbing on a plane if you have the flu or some serious illness. That seems obvious, but people do it all the time. Not only will you be miserable, but you might be infecting others on the plane with you.
Most people can leave on a trip without consulting their doctor, but for some itineraries, it’s wise to get a check-up. If you’re planning a trip to an exotic location, meet with your regular doctor or your travel medicine doctor.
Find out if you need any vaccinations or medications for your trip. They can probably give you a prescription for a broad spectrum antibiotic and give you instructions on how to take it in case you get diarrhea and need it.
If you have some health issues, like a heart condition or something that limits you, discuss with your doctor the proper care you should take for those conditions to keep your travel healthy.
Make sure your teeth are in good shape too.
If you’ve had some little pains in a tooth, go get it checked out. My spouse had resisted getting a wisdom tooth extracted for years. It had broken, but didn’t bother her. She started having “twinges” on that side of his mouth, but she was sure it was further forward. I told him it was probably that tooth, and it would probably blow up on him when he was on the plane! Turns out the tooth had decayed since his last checkup… she got the tooth extracted (no problems!), and we had a great trip.
Be sensible about what you eat and drink on your travels. Eat what you like, but if things look unhygienic, you might want to take a pass. If food looks like it’s been sitting out for the flies for a few hours, you wouldn’t want to eat it anyway.
Try to eat nutritiously. If you have a dietary restriction, try to learn how to say it in the local language (or get it written down). And let the restaurants know… ask if they can help you if you need to avoid something for health reasons.
If you have serious food allergies, like allergies to shellfish or peanuts, you should carry an EpiPen or its equivalent. Of course you’ll try to avoid the culprit, but in a foreign country, you may not get your point across, so it’s better to be prepared. A precaution like this not only keeps your travel healthy… it could keep you alive!
Drink bottled water in places where the water isn’t safe. It is usually pretty easy to tell where that is. Drink tea or coffee made with boiled water, or drink bottled or canned soft drinks, beer or wine.
You have to watch your own hygiene as well as the water and the food. Make sure your hands are clean. Wash them before eating… or use those hand sanitizers that are available now. They come in small packets that you can take in your carry on luggage.
Get in shape for your trip so you’ll feel good about all that walking and all those stairs. Try to get plenty of exercise when you’re on your trip. And get plenty of sleep.
Sure you want to run around and not miss anything, but if you’re going to travel healthy, you need to rest… that way you will be able to keep going, and you will see it all.
Cruising is always a wonderful vacation, however, if you are trying to stick to a budget, it important that you avoid common hidden cruise “extras.” Be aware of the following ways a cruise will end up costing you more.
Alcoholic Beverages
If you enjoy having a glass of wine or a cocktail with your meals, this can be very costly. However, you can always take advantage of the bartenders drink-of-the-day, usually offered at a lower price than most cocktails. Before you sail, it’s a good idea to check your cruiseline’s policy on bringing your own alcohol on board ship.
The Spa
Luxury cruiselines all have very upscale spa facilities. If you would like to pamper yourself while on board, look for the daily specials that your ship’s spa offers. Keep in mind the technicians are very skilled at convincing you that you need to purchase expensive spa products.
If you are prepared for this, you can politely decline when these products are offered.
Ship Photos
On every cruise, a highlight is walking around to the different locations on the ship to have your picture taken. It is very tempting to buy all of these photos, but try to limit yourself to one or two. Bring enough film for your camera as well, purchasing photo supplies onboard can be expensive!
Souvenirs
All luxurious cruise ships have malls for your shopping pleasure. Of course, with luxury and convenience comes the pricetags that go along with it! Try to avoid impulse shopping. Your destinations will always have a wide variety of shops where you can pick up some mementos from your trip.
Excursions
Shore excursions are a very important part of cruising as they allow you to engage in activities you enjoy and get the most out of your cruise destinations. The cruise concierge desk will offer you a variety of options for fun activities, and they will suggest that you sign up before you get there. I am a definite believer in thinking ahead, but a little education and planning will lead you to a better experience and won’t cost as much, especially if you take advantage of a good discount tour planner.
These are just a few helpful tips to look out for when you set sail so you can get the most out of your cruising experience!